Is it chicken parma, parmi or even PARMY? Debate over what to call a chicken parmigiana

Australians have long declared chicken parmigiana one of their favourite pub meals – but there’s a keen debate over whether the abbreviated version is parma, parmi or even parmy. 

In Queensland parmi, sometimes spelled parmy, is the generally accepted name for the dish – but it doesn’t necessarily translate across state lines.

In Victoria most people call the popular pub feed a parma while other states remain divided on the issue.

In NSW, the parmi versus parma debate is pretty evenly split, while punters in Western Australia are also divided down the middle.

While those in South Australia agree the word sounds like par-mee but are at arms over how to spell it, arguing the ‘i’ and ‘y’ variations aren’t interchangeable.

The debate has been sparked again thanks to a recent call for the slang names of Australian food to be officially included in the newest update of the Oxford Dictionary.

The team from ANU’s Australian National Dictionary Centre believe it is important for the commonly used terms to appear in the Australian editions of the popular dictionary.

They are also appealing to the public to submit their own suggestions for slang words which should be incorporated in the new book.

ANDC director and chief editor of the Australian National Dictionary, Dr Amanda Laugesen said with the 21st century evolution of Australian culinary culture came a wide range of new words. 

She hopes the debate over what to call the chicken dish will be settled soon.

Market research conducted by Arnott’s in 2020 revealed 45 per cent of Australians prefer to use the word ‘parmi’, over 34 per cent who say ‘parma’.

According to Good Food, The Grace Darling Hotel in committed the abbreviation to paper, with each menu bearing the word ‘parma’ rather than ‘parmigiana’.

“I can’t even remember the last time I heard someone use the word ‘parmi’,” says general manager Elena Gill.

While Sydney restaurants said the same of ‘parma’ not recalling the term used for ‘years’. 

‘The Australian Chicken Parmi. It’s a staple of pubs across the country and has become everyone’s go to counter meal,’ one man posted alongside his picture of the meal

‘There is a much wider range of food choices available now – multicultural dishes, street food, ingredients from native plants and animals. We also like our less formal ways of enjoying food, from sausage sizzles to food festivals,’ Dr Laugesen said.

‘We can choose to dine on souvas and potato gems in the evening and wake up to a Tim Tam slam and a flattie in the morning,’ the team said, showing off some of the words people may expect in the newest edition of the dictionary.

‘All of these changes are reflected in the language we use, and we expect that there are many new Australian food-related terms that we have not recorded.’

Some old favourites will be added though, to properly reflect the Australian culture, these include honey joy, tank loaf, bushman brownie and smiley fritz.